Unions For Joining Fluid Conduits

Abstract

A union for connecting a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit includes a body. The body defines a central passage about a central longitudinal axis of the body with the body having a first side and a second side. The body is configured to define a first adhesive channel between a first fluid conduit and the first side of the body and to define a second adhesive channel between a second fluid conduit and the second side of the body. The body defining an injection port position at a midpoint of the body. The injection port in fluid communication with the first adhesive channel and the second adhesive channel and is configured to deliver adhesive into the first adhesive channel and the second adhesive channel.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A union for connecting a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, the union comprising:
 a body defining a central passage about a central longitudinal axis of the body, the body having a first side and a second side, the first side configured to secure the first fluid conduit to the body, the second side configured to secure the second fluid conduit to the body, the central passage configured to receive the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit therein such that the first side and the second side are disposed about the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit, respectively, the body configured to define a first adhesive channel between an outer surface of the first fluid conduit and the first side of the body and to define a second adhesive channel between an outer surface of the second fluid conduit and the second side of the body, the body defining an injection port positioned at a midpoint of the body, the injection port in fluid communication with the first adhesive channel and the second adhesive channel and configured to deliver adhesive into the first adhesive channel and the second adhesive channel with the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit disposed within the central passage.   
     
     
         2 . The union according to  claim 1 , wherein the body includes an inner wall that defines the central passage, the inner wall defining a first groove in the first side and a second groove in the second side, the first groove and the second groove each having a diameter greater than the central passage, the first groove and the second groove disposed adjacent the midpoint of the body and spaced apart from each other and each end of the body, the first groove defining the first adhesive channel with the first fluid conduit and the second groove defining the second adhesive channel with the second fluid conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The union according to  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a well at the midpoint thereof, the well in fluid communication with the first adhesive channel and the second adhesive channel and the injection port. 
     
     
         4 . The union according to  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a divider positioned between the first adhesive channel and the second adhesive channel. 
     
     
         5 . The union according to  claim 1 , wherein the body has a relaxed state in which the central passage has a relaxed diameter and an expanded state in which the central passage has an expanded diameter that is larger than the relaxed diameter, the relaxed diameter sized and dimensioned to be equal to or less than an outer diameter of a fluid conduit to be received within the central passage, the expanded diameter sized and dimensioned to be greater than the outer diameter of a fluid conduit to be received within the central passage. 
     
     
         6 . The union according to  claim 5 , wherein the body defines expansion passages disposed about and adjacent to the central passage, the expansion passages configured to be engaged to stretch the body from the relaxed state to the expanded state. 
     
     
         7 . The union according to  claim 6 , wherein the body defines four expansion passages disposed about the central passage. 
     
     
         8 . The union according to  claim 6 , wherein the expansion passages extend through the body, each expansion passage defined about an expansion axis that is parallel to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly comprising:
 a first fluid conduit;   a second fluid conduit;   a union according to  claim 1 ; and   an adhesive disposed in the first adhesive channel and the second adhesive channel to secure the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit to the union such that the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit are in fluid communication with one another.   
     
     
         10 . A union for connecting a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, the union comprising:
 a body including an inner wall defining a central passage about a central longitudinal axis of the body, the body having a first side and a second side, the body having a relaxed state in which the central passage has a relaxed diameter and an expanded state in which the central passage defines an expanded diameter that is larger than the relaxed diameter, the relaxed diameter sized and dimensioned to be equal to or less than an outer diameter of the fluid conduit to be received within the central passage, the expanded diameter sized and dimensioned to be greater than the outer diameter of the fluid conduit to be received within the central passage, the inner wall configured to bond to the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit when the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit are received in the central passage and the body is in the relaxed state.   
     
     
         11 . The union according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner wall is configured to form an adhesive free bond with the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The union according to  claim 10 , wherein the body defines expansion passages disposed about and adjacent to the central passage, the expansion passages configured to be engaged to stretch the body from the relaxed state to the expanded state. 
     
     
         13 . The union according to  claim 12 , wherein the body defines four expansion passages disposed about the central passage. 
     
     
         14 . The union according to  claim 12 , wherein the expansion passages extend through the body, each expansion passage defined about an expansion axis that is parallel to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The union according to  claim 10 , wherein in the relaxed state, the body is configured to compress the outer surfaces of the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit received within the central passage. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly comprising:
 a first fluid conduit including an end portion having a surface treatment applied thereto;   a second fluid conduit including an end portion having a surface treatment applied thereto; and   a union according to  claim 10 , the inner wall forming an adhesive free bond with the end portion of the first fluid conduit and the end portion of the second fluid conduit to aseptically, fluidly connect the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit.   
     
     
         17 . A method of joining two fluid conduits in an aseptic manner, the method comprising:
 expanding a body of a union;   positioning a first fluid conduit within a first side of the body of the union;   positioning a second fluid conduit within a second side of the body such that a lumen of the first fluid conduit is in fluid communication with a lumen of the second fluid conduit through a central passage extending between the first side and the second side; and   releasing the body of the union such that the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit are bonded to the union within the central passage.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 injecting an adhesive through an injection port defined in the body; and   curing the adhesive such that the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit are bonded to the body with the adhesive.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein injecting the adhesive through the injection port includes the adhesive flowing into a first adhesive channel defined between the body and an outer surface of the first fluid conduit and a second adhesive channel defined between the body and an outer surface of the second fluid conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein expanding the body includes engaging expansion passages to stretch the body from a relaxed state to an expanded state.